Assessment of competency: the role of neurobehavioral deficits

Article Abstract:

In medicine, the ability to make decisions for oneself with respect to medical care is known as competency. Since decisions on medical care require that a patient be able to provide or refuse to provide informed consent, an assessment of the patient's competency to do so is necessary. Certain illnesses, such as stroke, Alzheimer's disease, and head injury can affect a patient's thinking sufficiently that he is incapable of making informed decisions. An evaluation of patient competency should focus on attention, language, memory, and function of the frontal lobe of the brain, where most cognitive processes occur. Patients with drifting attention can be aroused to a response, but soon return to their unaware state, and these people must be considered incompetent. Patients with wandering attention are not somnolent, but they are easily distracted. Strokes and other neurologic injuries can lead to various language deficits. Some people have lost the ability to speak, but retain their ability to understand. Some of these can still read or write, and thus may be able to adequately respond by the written word. An assessment of competency must include memory testing, which should include both recent and remote memory. Dysfunction of the frontal lobe of the brain can be subtle. Patients may be unable to recognize the consequences of their actions, have poor judgment, or have a diminished awareness of the magnitude of their problems. By assessing each and all of these issues, a physician should be able to judge the competency of a patient. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Evaluation, Testing, Cognition, Cognitive tests, Competent authority

---

Communication problems: a patient's view

Article Abstract:

Effective communication is vital between patient and medical personnel in the area of informed consent prior to administering treatment. Patients may appear to refuse treatment if they delay decision-making while seeking further information on the options available, but medical personnel should be prepared to expect this. Consultants and registrars may provide the patient with conflicting information, with the course of action chosen by the patient often dependent on the way the information is delivered. Some medical staff may decide on a course of treatment without informing the patient of any options.

Health risk communication

---

Neurobehavioral effects of low-level lead exposure in human neonates

Article Abstract:

Pregnant women who have low blood levels could be increasing their baby's risk of behavioral abnormalities. This was the conclusion of a study of 103 African-American newborn babies whose mothers had blood lead levels less than 10 micrograms per deciliter.

Health aspects, Behavior, Infants (Newborn), Newborn infants, Lead in the body

Similar abstracts:

• Abstracts: Infant care review committees: the response to federal guidelines. Infant sleep and bedtime cereal
• Abstracts: Treatment with cimetidine of atypical fasciitis panniculitis syndrome. Diagnostic values of clinical diagnostic tests in subacromial impingement syndrome
• Abstracts: The influence of diet on the appearance of new lesions in human coronary arteries. Update on genital lesions
• Abstracts: Treatment of persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn: update. Changes in body composition and energy expenditure after six weeks' growth hormone treatment
• Abstracts: Cost-benefit issues in the practice of internal medicine. The role of medical necessity and cost-effectiveness in making medical decisions

This website is not affiliated with document authors or copyright owners. This page is provided for informational purposes only. Unintentional errors are possible.